Celltrion has completed the post-acquisition integration of French healthcare company Gifrer, paving the way for a full-scale expansion of its pharmacy business across Europe.
Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin recently visited Celltrion’s French subsidiary and Gifrer to review the integration process, including organizational operations, pharmacy sales networks, product portfolios and joint sales strategies. He called for the companies to turn Gifrer’s extensive pharmacy network into tangible growth in sales and market share.
Gifrer operates a sales network covering more than 9,000 pharmacies and supplies products to more than 800 hospitals across France. It also has a portfolio of about 140 over-the-counter drugs, pharmacy products and health functional products.
Celltrion plans to combine Gifrer’s pharmacy network with its existing direct-sales capabilities in the European hospital market, creating an integrated sales platform covering both hospitals and pharmacies.
The pharmacy channel is expected to be particularly important for subcutaneous (SC) biosimilars, which are increasingly dispensed through pharmacies. France has allowed pharmacy substitution for certain biologic medicines since 2022, with the scope of eligible products gradually expanding.
Celltrion plans to begin by preparing direct pharmacy sales of Stoboclo-Osenvelt, its denosumab biosimilar for bone-related diseases, in line with French regulations and the implementation schedule for pharmacy substitution.
The company also plans to expand Gifrer’s portfolio beyond Celltrion products. It is considering licensing and launching non-competing biosimilars, generic drugs and healthcare products to increase sales opportunities and improve the productivity of its pharmacy sales network.
Celltrion Skin Cure’s derma-cosmetics brand Zipiderm is also scheduled to enter the French pharmacy cosmetics market early next year, with Gifrer handling local sales and distribution.
Celltrion plans to use France as a test bed for its pharmacy direct-sales model. After evaluating its performance and profitability, the company will gradually consider expanding the model into other European markets based on each country’s regulatory environment, pharmacy distribution structure and biosimilar substitution policies.
Kim Dong-sik, Global Head of Celltrion’s European operations, said the company had completed the necessary integration work at Gifrer and was now ready to focus on generating tangible results by combining Gifrer’s pharmacy network with Celltrion’s product portfolio.
Celltrion expects the acquisition to strengthen its existing hospital-focused direct-sales model while opening a new route to patients through pharmacies, potentially creating an additional growth engine for its European business.
